Moving Beyond Diversity: Cultivating Inclusion with Maria Balogun

This isn’t your typical DEI conversation.

In this episode of The Plumm Pod, host Georgia sits down with powerhouse inclusion strategist Maria Balogun to pull back the curtain on what real inclusion looks like in today’s workplace.

They challenge surface-level diversity, unpack the real impact of employee resource groups, and go deep into why organisations that don’t embrace inclusive practices are already falling behind.

Maria doesn’t hold back sharing bold insights on why “culture fit” is outdated, how “culture add” changes everything, and what it really takes to create workplaces where people belong.

From personal stories to practical frameworks, this conversation is a call to action for leaders who say they care about inclusion… but need to prove it.

Because in a world that’s finally listening, it’s not enough to look diverse. 

You need to be inclusive.

Episode Chapters 

00:00: The Essence of Diversity and Inclusion

03:51: Understanding Inclusion: Beyond Diversity

10:03: The Role of Employee Resource Groups

13:59: The Impact of DEI on Organizational Success

17:48: Culture Fit vs. Culture Add

24:08: Hiring Practices: Shifting Perspectives

30:07: Empowering Authenticity in the Workplace